TAIPEI, March 20 — Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu has said China has built "enormous" military bases on three islands surrounding Taiwan's main holding in the South China Sea, but Taipei is not looking to further escalate tensions in the strategic waterway.

SHENZHEN, March 8 — An oilfield was discovered in the South China Sea on Friday, and it has proven oil and gas reserves reaching 102 million tonnes of oil equivalent, according to the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), reported Xinhua.

BEIJING, March 7 — China is working with Asean nations for the early conclusion of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, with the second reading of the COC completed and now into the third reading.

MELBOURNE, March 6 — Malaysia, as a claimant state over the South China Sea issue, is firmly committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

MELBOURNE/SYDNEY, March 6 — Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday that maritime security, trade and clean energy will shape the country's future with the Asean bloc as Beijing looks to increase its presence in the contested South China Sea.

SYDNEY, March 4 — Australia said on Monday the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asian countries are facing serious defence threats as it set aside more funds for a maritime security pact with Asean countries during a summit with the Southeast Asian bloc.

SHANGHAI, Feb 3 — China has said a small civilian vessel from the Philippines had "illegally placed itself on the beach" of an atoll in the South China Sea which both countries claim.

MANILA, Feb 1 — Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has approved the third phase of the military's modernisation, which includes the purchase of the country's first submarine, in order to defend its maritime sovereignty in the disputed South China Sea.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan.

MANILA, Jan 29 — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

MANILA, Jan 24 — The Philippines Armed Forces will guarantee the "unimpeded and peaceful" exploration and exploitation of natural resources within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as it shifts its focus to external defence, said Manila's Defense Secretary.

MANILA, Jan 20 — The Philippines and Canada signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation yesterday, a move which Manila's defence minister said could later lead to a troop pact between the two countries.

JAKARTA, Jan 8 — Indonesian presidential frontrunner Prabowo Subianto suffered a barrage of attacks in a heated election debate yesterday, with his two opponents taking aim at his military procurement strategy as Defence Minister, calling him reckless and wasteful.

BEIJING, Dec 29 — China's defence ministry lashed out at the United States US) yesterday, a week after their top military officials resumed high-level talks, criticising its continued meddling in the Asia Pacific region and saying it maintained a "Cold War" mindset.

MANILA, Dec 26 — The Philippines is not provoking conflict in the South China Sea, the country's military spokesperson said today, in response to China's accusation that Manila is encroaching on Beijing's territory.

BEIJING/MANILA, Dec 21 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told the Philippines to address through dialogue serious difficulties in their relations over the South China Sea, warning that any miscalculation would prompt Beijing to defend itself and "respond resolutely".

TOKYO, Dec 18 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has once again highlighted the hypocrisy over the crisis in Gaza by “so-called countries that promote democracy and human rights.” In an exclusive interview with Japan’s leading media group The Nikkei, and conducted by journalist Norman Goh...

MANILA, Dec 12 — The Philippines' Foreign Ministry said today that it has summoned China's ambassador to Manila to protest "back-to-back harassments" in the South China Sea at the weekend.

BEIJING/MANILA, Dec 11 — The Philippines and China traded accusations yesterday over a collision of their vessels near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea as tensions over claims in the vital waterway escalate.

Beijingm Dec 10 —The Philippines and China traded accusations on Sunday over a collision of their vessels in disputed waters of the South China Sea as tensions over claims in the vital waterway escalate.